CT125 Winter Tour

[chrissables]

 

Today I half planned an easy day after yesterdays longer than usual ride. Leaving Loei City I found this small pond by accident, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6vDm5Xfuq7n9yMQL9

 

Following Google directions to Sang Thon Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Npr4qYHQVL7qEzzf6

 

I was sent up the wrong track to a dead end, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Uqe7SNnPNa3zJRFa9

 

The correct track starts here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/29174J2Lzwim6zhN6

 

I carried on past the reservoir along a nice track to the end, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PCsU6hoD1UgBco4B9

 

My next destination was Nong Lom Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/STT8GzEZ2UmLNew19

 

The track there started here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pZyZ4b6kChbTRYiJ7

 

There is about 10k of nice tracks to ride before paved road continues to the reservoir.

 

I looped around the reservoir  before returning to Loei.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO79mx2Kyq

 

 

[chrissables]

Today I rode to Huai Pla Duk Beautiful Water Forest Park, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pkQAkwARpTSJpymu9

 

There is a reservoir here of the same name and there is a lot of commercial logging in the area. Which means tracks to ride!

 

Here are a few waypoints, there are more tracks than shown on the maps.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zcr<deleted>MUZXRzfhA9

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TvgxPwuTcVdi6mkz8

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jzTrsEL5ZkmZkeQp6

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/R7FEx8pSiecrpRge8

 

From the last waypoint I returned to Loei.

 

Another enjoyable ride today.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vZqNEGmyR36

 

 

[chrissables]

Today I returned to Huai Pla Duk Beautiful Water Forest Park again to explore further.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pkQAkwARpTSJpymu9

 

I took a different route there after being redirected by Google, in this case a good route that became track east of here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DtFBQAwWhrFn8ezNA

 

After taking phots at the logging area, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hFi2AgwAKfXvMnkp9

 

Riding north from here and taking the route west and returning to here, was mostly sand and gravel tracks.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7kgq4DVGhPfaCz5y9

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v26MoRGrD3v

 

[chrissables]

Today I rode from Loei to Nong Khai, actually a nice ride through the mountains leaving Loei.

 

I stopped to take some photos at Ta Bo (baw) here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KHghRPjEKeUNprgo9

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvr1XQoYLq

 

[chrissables]

Today I decided to ride west of Nong Khai exploring. My first stop was at Nong Kwai Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uJxzhmRU1S6JShjw6

 

After riding around it I continued on to Nong Ngam Reservoir, quite a large reservoir than luckily had tracks all the way around it. Here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/MyjkFKZ8PqceiU5E9

 

I then continued mostly on small roads and tracks to Bang Phuan Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WRoJGsQouXDHAos16

 

I then rode to the river front at Nong Khai.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqow9Lrwyq

 

 

[Stiddle Mump]

Great pics Chris.

 

What a contrast from a few posts ago? Mountains into plains.

 

You'll be passing our farm in a while. I'll look out for you, and give you the thumbs up as you roar past  I'll be wearing an orange shirt and white trilby.

 

Thanks for all the time and effort you put in.

 

[chrissables]

20 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Great pics Chris.

 

What a contrast from a few posts ago? Mountains into plains.

 

You'll be passing our farm in a while. I'll look out for you, and give you the thumbs up as you roar past  I'll be wearing an orange shirt and white trilby.

 

Thanks for all the time and effort you put in.

 

Roaring 555555 looking lost maybe 🙂

[chrissables]

Today I decided to ride east from Nong Khai exploring. My first stop was Ban Na Tan Neua Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/orn4JgmfXGTEo8fi9

 

There did not seem to be any tracks around it so I carried on eventually riding a track between Kut Suay and Phan Reservoirs, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nLi2Bve4M1Uv9Cez6

 

I then rode to Bridge Romjai, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2oTfLBiiYQZJW9cx9

 

On the west side of the river there were new sand roads heading both north and south. I decided to ride south and see where it took me. Wat Pa Sakunasai was as far as the off road track took me.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVwLiZgw8yUjz4Te9

 

I then looped around back to the bridge on road, then started heading north on the sand road to a weir being built, in this area.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YHgVEXNN1S7HryYM8

 

From here I carried on riding north off road to here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tsXV7161ukBzcvU7A

 

Then back to Nong Khai

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6JNWM3gx6

[Stiddle Mump]

Great pics as usual Chris.

 

I've took the liberty of putting up a shot of a stranded airplane very near to Nong Khai. Not far off H2. 

 

 

Been there a couple of times. Couldn't get close. Info scratchy. Interesting though.

 

 

[chrissables]

21 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Great pics as usual Chris.

 

I've took the liberty of putting up a shot of a stranded airplane very near to Nong Khai. Not far off H2. 

 

 

Been there a couple of times. Couldn't get close. Info scratchy. Interesting though.

 

 

I saw one todays returning to town.

[chrissables]

Today, my last day in Nong Khai I went exploring south of the city. My first stop was at Si Charoen Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YHCGGUT9gYmRJbDf6

 

Unfortunately, all the tracks were concrete, but still worth a ride around.

 

Next, I rode to the wooden bridge at Nong Bo Kong Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6MqKiWgNxhpSEKP9A

 

Next stop was Seng Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4hoViEdSg1YcU9Hz9

 

There were tracks all around the reservoir to ride. And after riding them I rode on to another reservoir named the same, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4VY8BXuKRhRhUywc7

 

I then rode north, as much as possible on tracks until riding on to Nong Khai.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O92okpPQ6

[chrissables]

Today, day 80 of my trip I left Nong Khai and headed north east to Bueng Kan, following the Mekong River until I turned east to my first stop at Huai Plaeo Nuea Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ENAJddxYh6odTiCK7

 

From here I road east and north east back up to the Mekong River to Dolphin Stone Viewpoint, here. Which also had views of the new bridge being built crossing to Laos.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/GATpYgeCWYZmQ1JM8

 

The stones are here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ndxwHwXhJLibCctK7

 

I then headed alongside the Mekong into Bueng Kan

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnkmeeYB6

[chrissables]

Today I rode south from Bueng Kan, my first stop was a reservoir I can’t read the name of, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/B3qKP6QHEkXRBq8M9

 

I rode all around it, but it was all paved. I did find a irrigation channel heading east that went through rice fields, then the tracks carried on through rubber tree plantations to here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BfzD9kdMpKgCv4w38

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vZqNE2XReG6

[chrissables]

Today I left Bueng Kan to ride to Nakhom Phanom, my first stop was at the Mekong River, Sida Beach, Ban Nong Doen, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/u69d6N5czDACs8cR7

 

Leaving here I followed the river as close as I could until a new, small bridge at Bung Khia, here

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/TE48YRDPhafpESeW9

 

I then followed to road then tracks until they ended, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PqJ8y3R2R8XvFuaS7

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O92MJG5L6

[chrissables]

Today I went exploring north and west of Nakhom Phanom. My first stop was to photograph Friendship Bridge, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9mrYkHyybQ33q2MV8

 

From here I continued north to find a road under construction, I could see only on satellite view in Google maps and is not on Gaia maps too. The road starts here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZE7MTe5KCCbjPd5c8

 

And goes all the way to the airport, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HXq5JpnL7YLFUnjD9

 

The further I rode the less the construction had had progressed. I then rode tracks around most of the airport except the entrance road.

 

I continued mostly off road to Huai Laeng Yai Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3upopdEWMrqjMWLbA

 

I then rode tracks for quite a while until finding the new road construction, I followed this and, on my way, back took a photo of the Lao mountains from here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XNjPCdvuwBzabrdBA

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vr63gEz9dd6

[chrissables]

Today I went exploring west and south from Nakhom Phanom. My first stop was Nong Yat Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/N6TcJYoy4CMC3Gj59

 

From here until I got to the Mekong River was mostly off road, about 60km, and fun, besides all the waypoints I had to stop at.

 

I came across a wooden bridge, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ei81F376ABm1xjt56

 

Riding beside the Mekong my way was blocked by a half-demolished bridge, so I rode the remaining way on the main road.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4PHeaXYhgthaUndb6

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vJOK5meAdwq

[chrissables]

I left Nakhom Phanom today to ride to Sakon Nakon, I took one detour to ride around Song Hong Reservoir, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/y2KowrDGbJKHAzxy9

 

From here I rode into Sakon Nakon to find a camera shop, the biggest chain camera shop in Thailand whose staff didn’t have any idea about cleaning the sensor or sell cleaning kits. They told be to send it to Bangkok and it will take a month! Contacting the same store in Udon Thani a much larger city I was given the same reply, crazy.

 

On my way to find a hotel I found a Honda motorbike shop that was open and got the bike serviced, after they blasted all the dried clay off.

 

The third hotel I tried had a room and strangely had two teddy bears for me to share the bed with tonight 555555555

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8poXN1Nv

[Stiddle Mump]

Big bed too. Big enough for three.

 

 

Great pics Chris.

[chrissables]

23 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

Big bed too. Big enough for three.

 

 

Great pics Chris.

Sometimes it good to have a threesome 🙂

[chrissables]

Today I rode to Udon Thani from Sakon Nakon.

 

No stops at all as I wanted to sort my camera out. The first shop said the sensor and lens was perfectly clean, even trying their own lens to check. But it still was not right.

 

After contacting the shop I bought my kit from they sent me to the shop here in Udon who yesterday said they could not clean the sensor or sell a cleaning kit. But then found a technician who could.

 

It seems ok now, tomorrow I will know for sure!

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqowmmRdKq

[Stiddle Mump]

3 hours ago, chrissables said:

Today I rode to Udon Thani from Sakon Nakon.

 

No stops at all as I wanted to sort my camera out. The first shop said the sensor and lens was perfectly clean, even trying their own lens to check. But it still was not right.

 

After contacting the shop I bought my kit from they sent me to the shop here in Udon who yesterday said they could not clean the sensor or sell a cleaning kit. But then found a technician who could.

 

It seems ok now, tomorrow I will know for sure!

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqowmmRdKq

There is a Samsung repair centre just south of Udon City.

[chrissables]

10 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

There is a Samsung repair centre just south of Udon City.

I use a camera as well as a phone camera.

[chrissables]

Today I rode south east from Udon Thani to Han Kumphawai Lake to explore. I arrived at the lake at Red Lotus Viewpoint, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUyFp9zafA8FJz9K7

 

But very few lotus flowers to be seen. I then started a clockwise loop of the lake until I got to an irrigation channel and rode as far up as possible, then returned.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/t3i4YoLYUGJTr3Cj7

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BQjSXdVDGTRRewNU9

 

I stopped just short of a full loop at a track here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5UhaBY4euiF3Mva97

 

I followed this until it turned to rode and returned to Udon.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v4OGeZBr35q

 

[Stiddle Mump]

 At the right time, that lake is beautiful,

 

Before the whole area was carved up, and before Udon was developed: Nong Han was the major admin district.

 

Stonking pics Chris.

[biervoormij]

6 hours ago, chrissables said:

Today I rode south east from Udon Thani to Han Kumphawai Lake to explore. I arrived at the lake at Red Lotus Viewpoint, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kUyFp9zafA8FJz9K7

 

But very few lotus flowers to be seen. I then started a clockwise loop of the lake until I got to an irrigation channel and rode as far up as possible, then returned.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/t3i4YoLYUGJTr3Cj7

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BQjSXdVDGTRRewNU9

 

I stopped just short of a full loop at a track here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5UhaBY4euiF3Mva97

 

I followed this until it turned to rode and returned to Udon.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v4OGeZBr35q

 

 

 

 

Are the pictures from the Red Lotus Viewpoint?  I have attempted to see red lotus from a few places and these photos you have seem much better than what I have seen. I think I may go to Udon in 2026 to see the red lotus but not sure if it is worth the ride.

[chrissables]

13 hours ago, Stiddle Mump said:

 At the right time, that lake is beautiful,

 

Before the whole area was carved up, and before Udon was developed: Nong Han was the major admin district.

 

Stonking pics Chris.

Thanks 🙂

[chrissables]

9 hours ago, biervoormij said:

Are the pictures from the Red Lotus Viewpoint?  I have attempted to see red lotus from a few places and these photos you have seem much better than what I have seen. I think I may go to Udon in 2026 to see the red lotus but not sure if it is worth the ride.

They were photographed from the west side of the lake, not at a marked viewpoint. If going there ride a loop around, different weather may change were is best.

[chrissables]

17 hours ago, biervoormij said:

Are the pictures from the Red Lotus Viewpoint?  I have attempted to see red lotus from a few places and these photos you have seem much better than what I have seen. I think I may go to Udon in 2026 to see the red lotus but not sure if it is worth the ride.

Correction, the east side.

[chrissables]

Today I rode out of Udon City to Huai Luang Reservoir to explore. Unfortunately, there were few roads that actually went close to the reservoir. The water level was also low which didn’t help.

 

My first stop was here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3ACvrhQfhWHassaZ7

 

On the map there are two additional places which show I was near the water, but in fact I was not.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/i7esEsM3JwYon5qL8

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jSLD13bvPCjQdbve6

 

I carried on to the dam, but it was fenced off and I had to ride the road adjacent to it.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ueZT9zeWWTp6jsk77

 

There was a break where I could ride over the dam, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bfaYkr11hzPhs2LA6

 

From here I rode to the end of the dam where I could take a photo, here.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/dMVT366yYpazWSL56

 

Then returned to Udon.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvm1L3wExv

 

[Stiddle Mump]

Water levels are low in north Isaan. No rain for 127 days in our area. But not to fret. Some is forecast for late April. 😿

 

Anyone looking at this thread, would think there are virtually no people in the areas you visit. This time of year all the farms are in limbo. Went to our farm this afternoon. 3klm out of the village. Stayed for 2 hours and only saw one other person.

 

Great pics as usual Chris.